Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel. Amulet see Abrams, Harry  2012  216p      $13.95  978-1-4197-0584-7  elm/ms  Realistic Fiction  VG

0nce again the middle-school gods seem to be aligned against Greg Heffley.  As in all the previous novels, he manages to court havoc and end up without a date for the Valentine’s Day Dance.  When he miraculously finds a date at the last minute, readers know that he will find some way to make the entire situation into a disaster.  The humor will appeal to younger readers, both at the elementary and middle-school levels, especially in the scene where the senior-citizens group takes over the dance.  Kinney’s illustrations are always perfect for the text, and the entire package will appeal to even the most reluctant reader.  This novel is a must-have for elementary and middle-school libraries.

Humor–Fiction, Friendship–Fiction, Diaries-Fiction    --Pat Naismith

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.  Harry Abrams, 2011.  216p. $13.95  ISBN 978-1-41970-223-5  elm/ms    VG-BN    Graphic novel    

     "Greg, stuck indoors with his family over the holiday because of a blizzard, suffers from claustrophobia and worries they will not be able to weather the storm."  Upper-elementary and middle-school students who have read the other five titles in this series will thoroughly enjoy this sixth installment.  Before a huge blizzard hits Greg’s hometown, he and his friend Rowley try to make money through a business they have set up to help pay for Greg’s cyber pet.  As with most of Greg’s interactions, he can’t seem to do anything right.  Greg and Rowley also become involved in accidentally vandalizing school property, and this causes Greg to worry, since he knows Santa is watching his every move.  Readers see Greg Heffley as the same self-centered, computer-game-addicted boy who is struggling to be on his best behavior between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When a blizzard strands him at home with his two brothers, Rodrick and Manny, and his mother, he feels extra pressure to do his best.  During the storm, the house loses power, and his younger brother Manny adjusts the fuse box to fix the power, while his father is stuck in a hotel and spends the holidays in peace.
     As he has done with the other books in this series, Kinney continues to use black-and-white stick-figure illustrations/drawings, humorous text, jokes, and real-life adventures that could happen to our very own children.  The book is a fun, fast read that would be great for reluctant readers and will make readers out of non-readers.  Most students who have read the others in this series will find this book as entertaining as the other five.  As with many book series, some books begin to lack characteristics that made the first books popular, but Kinney manages to keep this series going strong, and this will help develop readers and win additional fans.  The book can be read and understood without having read the others first.                

Subject:  Diaries -- Fiction.
Charleen Forba-Mayer